Red Devils executive vice-chairman has held further talks with Atletico Madrid regarding a summer move for the France forward
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has held further talks with Atletico Madrid regarding the £80 million sale of star forward Antoine Griezmann.
Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho does not see out-of-form captain Wayne Rooney with a long-term future at Old Trafford, after having left the England international on the bench for the past three games.
And with United having already been hotly pursuing Griezmann – who had won the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2016 – they now see him as a replacement for Rooney, who is reportedly subject of major interest from China and the MLS.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has notified the Spanish outfit of his intentions to leave the club in the summer and it is well known that the Frenchman’s only desire to leave the Spanish capital would be if the Argentine was to depart the club.
Therefore, Woodward has decided to further negotiate with the club, who are reportedly ready to overwrite the current world record transfer fee they paid for fellow Frenchman Paul Pogba, this summer.
Griezmann is one of the most sought after forwards in world football and United are doing all they can to ensure they are at the top of the pecking order come the summer, when Atletico have resigned themselves to losing their star player.
The France forward’s family is now in charge of his footballing affairs; after ditching agent. But despite being contracted to Atletico until 2021, Griezmann is understood to be keen on a move to the Premier League and United hope his close friendship with Paul Pogba will help them secure a deal.
It is understood the 25-year-old has already knocked back the advances of Paris Saint-Germain, while Chelsea are also set to join United in meeting Atletico’s asking price.
